Woman got diabetes aged 21 after 12 Pepsis a day but reversed condition in weeks with extreme diet
A woman claims she managed to get her Type 2 diabetes in remission after six weeks of a new diet and lifestyle after ditching a habit of drinking a dozen cans of Pepsi a day.
Rugby woman Isla Henderson, 27, had initially wanted to change her lifestyle because she was getting married in March and wanted to feel her best when she walked down the aisle, but says her diet changed things for her in just a few weeks.
Back in 2020 when she was 21, Isla had been suffering from extreme thirst, headaches and oversleeping and went to the doctor, who told her she'd had Type 2 diabetes since she was 17 and hadn't known about it.
Type 2 diabetes is where your body does not produce enough insulin, or the insulin in your body does not work properly and the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood increases, Isla said she'd been 'embarrassed' to be diagnosed with it because of her young age, and she didn't tell people about it.
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After spending several years trying to get her blood sugar levels down by herself, back in September last year she signed up for a nutrition and exercise plan ahead of her wedding to fiancée Shannon, 28.
"When I found out that I was in remission, I cried"
Weighing in at 15st7lbs when she started the diet and exercise regime, Isla says that six weeks later her Type 2 diabetes was in remission
She said: "In two weeks I had to start reducing my diabetes medication and then when I had my annual check in October, I was in remission.
"The way that that panned out was not my intention but because it worked so well this is why I'm advocating for it.
"When I found out that I was in remission, I cried. I had a blood test last week and my levels are still dropping. It's overwhelming but in a good way."
Her change in diet involved drinking protein smoothies and having healthy dinners of meat and vegetables, while avoiding carbs because they spiked her blood sugars.
Pasta and potatoes had to go, and her snacks became low sugar protein yoghurts, boiled eggs, raw peppers or carrot sticks.
"Fast and processed food is so accessible for us"
Isla said she didn't have enough knowledge about nutrition when she was diagnosed, and is worried that an easy access to fast food and processed meals is partly responsible for a rise in Type 2 diabetes among young people, women in particular.
"I strongly believe that the lack of knowledge around nutrition and not knowing what is good for you is one of the causes for the increase of Type 2 diabetes in young people," she said.
"I think my generation doesn't always have the knowledge of what is good or not good for your body. Being able to grab processed food so easily and sugary drinks in coffee shops is also a reason.
"Fast and processed food is so accessible for us. You don't even have to leave your house with UberEATS. Everything is at your fingertips."
Imperial College London has been warning that while the rate of new cases of Type 2 diabetes is falling in older adults, there has been a rapid increase in people under 40.
"Because I hated what I saw I would comfort eat"
Isla says that when she was diagnosed she was 'so embarrassed and didn't tell anybody', and she didn't feel she had enough knowledge and support on nutrition to 'know how to make it better'.
She left her diagnosis with a few leaflets but until she got on the diet and exercise plan she didn't know how to get her blood sugars down.
"I wouldn't drink water or squash, it was always Pepsi Max. I was addicted," she said of her old eating habits before she lost weight and entered remission.
"I never really had breakfast and lunch would be a meal deal or a panini from a cafe. For dinner I would have pasta with no nutrition.
"My usual would be a McDonald's as it's quick and easy and I would usually order a large meal, with a side of chicken nuggets and extra bits.
"At my heaviest I was around 20 stone. I felt horrific about myself. I hated what I saw but then because I hated what I saw I would comfort eat. It was a vicious cycle."
The switch in diet
She's gone from snacking on chocolate and crisps to healthier options, has aloe water, energy tea and protein smoothie for breakfast, and another protein smoothie for lunch before her meat and veg evening meal.
Since getting into the diet and exercise she's lost around two-and-a-half stone in nine months, but her overall weight hasn't changed that much because she's been putting on muscle mass.
However, her body had been transformed as she's now a size 12 and has lost 74cm across her body, and is now only needing to take her basic diabetes medication to protect her organs.
She said: "I've got a waist now and I'm wearing completely different clothes to what I did before and I actually like clothes shopping."
Isla's also become a trainee wellness coach and has set up a diabetes support group to encourage other women to speak up about help they need after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
"Type 2 diabetes is nothing to be embarrassed about"
"Because I'm building muscle my weight hasn't changed drastically but my body shape has. I've lost 74cm across my whole body.
"I've got a waist now and I'm wearing completely different clothes to what I did before and I actually like clothes shopping."
Alongside her day job, Isla is now a trainee wellness coach and has set up a diabetes support group which is set to have their first meeting next week.
Since entering remission, she is now encouraging other women to reach out and speak to others to ensure they get the help they need if they are also diagnosed with T2D.
Isla said: "I wish that when I was going through, I had someone to speak to. Type 2 diabetes is nothing to be embarrassed about.
"There are a lot of contributing factors such as genetics and other illnesses.
"Definitely speak up as it affected my mental health badly and made everything worse for me as I kept it to myself."
Joe Harker